The Pardee Rehab & Wellness Center has launched a program to provide complimentary memberships to the caregivers of US Veterans. Duane Young, Manager of Pardee Rehab & Wellness stated, "We are helping the lives of the individuals who support the people who served our country. This will only help fulfill Pardee's mission of improving the health of the communities we serve."

Studies have shown that exercise and healthy living is crucial for the success of military caregivers. This need is frequently failing to be met, with cost being the most common inhibiting factor. This program is designed to eliminate that barrier, for those who provide at least 20 hours per week of care to a veteran.

For more details about the program, and for eligibility requirements, call the Rehab & Wellness Center at (828) 693-5114.

Pardee Rehab & Wellness Center is the largest and most comprehensive facility of its kind in Henderson County. This facility offers fully-integrated physical, occupational and speech therapy services to meet individualized needs. Services are performed on an outpatient basis, and are provided by licensed physical and occupational therapists along with speech/language pathologists. The facility offers a fully equipped and professionally supervised gym, which is open to the public and therapy graduates. Pardee Rehab & Wellness is dedicated to helping patients prevent and overcome injury or disability so they can enjoy a mobile, satisfying life. The Pardee Rehab & Wellness Center is also home to Cardiac Rehab, Pulmonary Rehab and Diabetes Education.

Camping with kids can be a fun experience for the entire family, as long as campers are prepared for the great outdoors. Come learn helpful tips to ensure a safe and fun-filled time, including first aid, outdoor ethics, what to look for in a tent, how to keep the insects away, kid-friendly camp foods and interactive activities. Local businesses will be joining the presentation, including Lisa Ronan, from The Chef's Kitchen at Ingles, providing a cooking demonstration.

Pardee Signature Care Center will host the event on Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. To register, please call (828) 692-4600. Light refreshments will be served.

Pardee physical therapist David Gerrer, PT, COMT, will present an informational class discussing effective control of neck and back pain through the use of physical therapy. Back pain can cause the demands of everyday life to become a struggle. Gerrer will discuss what can be done to prevent common back issues, strengthen the back and learn proper posture. David Gerrer is a Physical Therapist with Pardee Outpatient Rehab & Wellness, and specializes in outpatient orthopedics and spine. Joining Gerrer will be Karen Lewis, Spine Navigator and Family Nurse Practitioner, of the Pardee Spine Center.

The presentation will be held at the Pardee Signature Care Center on Thursday, July 24, from 3 – 4 p.m. To register, please call (828) 692-4600. Light refreshments will be served.

Pardee Hospital Foundation named Dr. William Medina as the 2014 Health Care Philanthropist of the Year at the annual donor recognition event held at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock on June 21, 2014.

Pardee Hospital Foundation's board of directors presents this award each year to a member of the community that has made an outstanding contribution to Pardee Hospital, the Pardee Hospital Foundation and for the improvement of the community's health care. The recipient acts as an advocate for philanthropy and perpetuates giving within the community. Past winners of this award include Bob and Doris Eklund, Colin Thomas, M.D., Grace Vineyard, Phillip Sellers, M.D, Dot Marlow, Kenneth Youngblood, Eleanora Meloun and Don Holder.

While at Pardee, Dr. Medina served the hospital as Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Executive Committee and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He has also worked with the Rotary Club of Hendersonville, Board of Directors for Carolina Village, served as a Cabinet Member of St. James Episcopal Church and was on the Board of Directors for the Henderson County Cancer Services.

While at Pardee, Dr. Medina was named one of the three best doctors in North Carolina three years in a row (2009-2011) and featured in Business North Carolina Magazine. Dr. Medina has a desire to help patients, and says he chose to practice medicine in order to work in a field that allowed him to apply science to help others. Dr. Medina certainly has left a lasting impact on the health of residents of western North Carolina. Since moving here in 1995, he was a vital part of the cancer program, and worked tirelessly with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Pardee to ensure patients received the very best treatment possible.

We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Medina on receiving the 2014 Philanthropist of the Year Award by the Pardee Hospital foundation.

Pardee Hospital Foundation named Dr. James Caserio as the 2014 Health Care Physician of the Year at the annual donor recognition event held at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock on June 21, 2014.

Pardee Hospital Foundation's Board of Directors presents this award each year to a member of the community that has made an outstanding contribution to Pardee Hospital, the Pardee Hospital Foundation and for the improvement of the community's health care. Last year, the inaugural award winner was Dr. Ken Shelton. The award presented by the Pardee Hospital Foundation, in collaboration with First Citizens Bank, is designed to recognize a physician at Pardee Hospital whose career has been defined by medical excellence, dedication to compassionate care and a commitment to improving the lives of countless people throughout the community.

Dr. Caserio has been described as a constant student, with a thirst for learning. Dr. Caserio will frequently spearhead educational programs on high interest medical topics, focused on honing his own skills along with the skills of every level of caregiver at the hospital. He has served as Chairman of the Internal Medicine Executive Committee, Chaired the Congestive Heart Failure Committee and provided oversight of the Pavilion Adult Day Care Center.

Dr. Caserio described the calling of a physician best by saying, "If I had to declare a mission statement of internal medicine, I would have to say that as a profession it is a 'calling or avocation' rooted in the legacy of being a healing, compassionate physician dedicated to holistic and dignified sensitive care of all people...for what we do for people by providing them with health care is to expand their capability to pursue life from premature death or illness."

Nominations were submitted by the public, with individuals writing letters on behalf of the candidate highlighting personal character along with the personal and professional activities of the nominee. Nominees are then evaluated on qualities within the categories of clinical care, teaching and education, research and scholarship, medical society service, health promotion and disease prevention, services to allied health professions, community service and philanthropic activity. The Judging committee is comprised of the Pardee's Chief Medical Officer, Pardee's Chief of Staff, physician member of the Pardee Foundation Board, First Citizens Bank representative and the Executive Director of the Pardee Hospital Foundation.

We are pleased to congratulate Dr. James Caserio on receiving the 2014 Physician of the Year Award by the Pardee Hospital Foundation.